SPIRITUALISM.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 610, 13 September 1909, Page 9

SPIRITUALISM.

Sir,—ln your issue of.'September 0 there appears'an article Entitled "Views froinl.the Pulpit," in ivhieh tho liev. Dr. Gibb attacks Spiritualism and ; its teachings. As a truthseeker, I' take-exception to several of Dr.' (jibb's stuteriicht' in that articlo, as. I believe them to be utterly misleading. 1 havo neither tile time nor-the 1 space- tb answer : all the charges' made' by the doctor in his -articleagainst' Spiritualism, but I shall tako ono ti "the statements and,throw the searchlight of 'truth: upon it'and se«-.how it stands the test, and. le£tye'tho others aldjio for tho. present; .In referring. to Spiritualism, Dr. Gibb is -reported to haTo'-said: "As-a religioni k spiritual power .making ■ and helping man' to achibVe their' rights .as .tho redeemed children of .God, Spiritualism'was-a shain'from beginning to end." Spiritualism or its teachings, .1 .should'say, just does, the very thing' Dr. Gibb says it'does'-not'do. .Through the'study of the Higher Spiritualism man is drawn nearer tbV Great Unseen; '..-and is '; brought ;; into • olosor 'touch, with his- God .in -.this way;' God is, I say,-made'known unto man, and man begins to .-'realise:'his true position towards his -Maker. .bf the Higher Spiritualism .Ve aro'riiade awai-o of tho nearness of .'-tho 'spiritual, .world. ,-Dri Gibb says.-thejmdssages ■received from the'"controls," even- when they .wero intelligible, were, trilling aiid riusigilifi'oant; .Let me tell, the learned doctor that some of the grandest truths ever-given td man-; kind have come' through modiums and • sensi-' tives the world over, Let tho learned dodtor' read." his Bible with .an .open mind, and lie 'mil find thero ample proof as to. what I now say regarding this matter. The prophets of old spako . under inspiration. From whence oamo this inspiration? From God, tho dootor will say. : Yes, all things groat and small dome from God, and the, Great Creator sends forth His unseen, helpers, to impress and control sensitives, and enablo, them to' give expression to truths which wiU tend' to; mako them think of the life to be lived beyond the grave. Spiritualism is no sham. No, it-is the teaching of Jesus Christ.' .The Master was a Spiritualist pure and simple, and what is moro Do .was through which tho Father of. all souls manifested and. made Himself known .to .His children.

' If Dr. Gibb. reads his Biblo with an open and. : unbiased' mind, he will .'admit these things of .which I. now speak,, because Spiritualism and its teachings are to bo .found throughout the whole oflho Old and the New Testament. Take Spiritualism out of the Biblo and what have, you' got "'left?'' Nothing but chaff.-. We find.within-tho pages of the Bible instanco after instanco ;given .of spirit return, clairvoyance, spirit, writing,• materialisation,; eto. . Dr. Gibb must bo awaro of these facts. Then why deny.them?l am not at'all.surprised. when I read of tho churches losing their hold ;upon. -tho masses.. It, is high, time our, ministers . awakened to the fact that: the p'ooplo want more than-mere platitudes. This is a thinking age, men .and women everywhere, are. searching :for, knowledge concerning .things spiritual,, and if it is not to bo fonna insido tho Church, then we must seek .for it elsewhere. Before closing, permit .mo to mako mention of a few, of.-.the followers.and believers.in'the spiritual, philosophy.. Amongst.many..aro to be found tho.names; of the Eov.Arthur Chambers, Basil Wilberforce, Andrew 'Jackson Davis, Sir 'Oliver. .-liod«;'V.Sir» .William ,;Crookes, Alfred Jlussel. Wafiaoe,";and many others too numerous .td.mention. ~:WiIL Dr, Gibb stand up and 'say these 'm'eß, -are fools ror knaves ?,':!• thirtk' not. 'yHovkrioits 'better .'than ' that, and yet these'men,-well' known to;tho world as scion' tists indv advanced: thinkers not only .beUere in the- teachings of/Spiritualism,\ but aro strong and ardent supporters of its principles.' -1 am, etc., : ; ■ . TEUTH-SEEKER.